Faucet-hole closer



mo Model.)

A. BETTRIDGE.

Faucet Hole Closer.

No. 231,986. Patented Sept. 7,1880.

777/012 n www t lwfenzwe w@ f4/JW We e e im eagafemm NJUERS, PNOTO-LAI'HOGRAPH'ER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

ABRAHAM BETTRIDGE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

FAUCET-HOLE CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,986, dated September '7, 1880.

Application filed June 3, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ABRAHAM BETTRIDGE, of Racine, in the county of Racine, and in the State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Refrigerators 5 and I do hereby decla-re that following is a full, clear, and exact description nthereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

rIhis invention relates to anV improved attachment for refrigerators designed to contain liquors on draft; and it has for its object to provide an automaticallyoperating' device, whereby the aperture through which the faucet of the barrel or vessel containing the liquor may be closed around said faucet to prevent the ingress of warm air to the refrigerator. I attain this object by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a front view of my improved device applied to a refrigerator, and Fig. 2 an inside view of the device detached.

The letter A indicates a portion of the front of a refrigerator, and B a rectan gularojieuin g therein through which the faucet of a barrel, keg, or other vessel containing liquor on draft projects, as usual.

The letter C indicates a metallic casing, adapted to be fastened by screws or their equivalents to the front, A, of the refrigerator, immediately above the opening B. The said casing is open at its bottom, and has pivoted within it two jaws, D, which are formed with narrow shanks D', extending up into the casing G. rIhe shanks are slotted, as indicated by the letter b, the pivot-pins d, by which the jaws are secu red to the casing, passing through the slots in such manner that the jaws are capable of a vertical as well as a lateral adjustment or movement, for the purposes more fully hereinafter specified. The jaws are also formed with shoulders e, against which Abear the lower ends of the spiral springs I, located within the casing at each side, and provided with pins h inside, to keep them from bending laterally and becoming displaced or unseated. These springs serve to press the jaws downward to a normal position, and at the same time leave them free to be moved vertically upward or to swing laterally for the purposes of adjustment.

Between the upper ends of the shanks D of the jaws are located one or more bent springs, F, which serve to press said shanks apart and close the jaws D together in a normal position, but which will yield when required and permit the jaws to be separated laterally, to permit them to be passed over the larger portion of a faucet, and afterward close around the narrow portion of the same. The jaws are provided at their adjoining edges with semicircular recesses G, which form a circular opening when closed, through which the faucet projects.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description, and is as follows: The device, as before mentioned, is secured to the refrigerator over the opening through which the faucet of the contained vessel projects. It is evident, owing to the construction of the jaws, that they will adjust themselves laterally and vertically, so as to accommodate themselves to the position of the faucet, and thus permit barrels or vessels of different sizes to he employed at pleasure, and the position of the same to be varied, within certain limits, so as to deliver the liquor properly, as required.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An attachment for refrigerators, consisting of a suitable casing adapted to he secured to the refrigerator over the opening through which the faucet of a draft-vessel projects, and provided wit-h two independent. jaws actuated by springs to adj ust themselves to the position of the faucet, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the casing O,jaws D, provided with slotted shanks D, pivotpins d., and springs F and I, the whole con structed to operate substantial] yin the manner specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this Zath day of May, 1880.

ABRAHAM BETTRIDGE.

Witnesses:

ERAsTUs G. PEoK, JOHN K. STEVENS. 

